{"product_id":"echiniformis-hedgehog-spruce","title":"Echiniformis Hedgehog Spruce","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Tiny Blue-Green Hedgehog Cushion\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEchiniformis Hedgehog Spruce (\u003cem\u003ePicea glauca\u003c\/em\u003e 'Echiniformis') is a charming miniature that forms a low, flattened cushion of stiff blue-green needles radiating like a hedgehog's spines. Exceptionally slow, it stays around 1-2 feet over many years - an easy, distinctive dwarf for troughs, rock gardens, and the front of beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEchiniformis Hedgehog Spruce Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003ePicea glauca\u003c\/em\u003e 'Echiniformis'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHedgehog Spruce, Echiniformis Dwarf Spruce\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1-2 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1-3 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery slow - 1-2 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate; water deeply through the first two seasons.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen - stiff blue-green needles in a low, rounded cushion\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40F.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGood - deer rarely browse spruce; the stiff needles deter them.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot native; a dwarf white spruce selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEchiniformis Hedgehog Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRock Gardens \u0026amp; Troughs\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts tiny hedgehog cushion is ideal for rockeries, troughs, and miniature collections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFront-of-Border Accent\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA distinctive low texture for the very front of beds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Echiniformis Hedgehog Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpring through early fall all work, but late August through mid-September is ideal, giving roots time to settle before the ground freezes. Water deeply once a week the first season and mulch to hold moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHedgehog Spruce Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eRock gardens, troughs, and miniature gardens\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt just 1–2 feet tall, this tight blue-green cushion is made for rock gardens, alpine troughs, and miniature conifer collections. Its stiff, radiating needles give it the namesake \"hedgehog\" look — a charming detail near a patio or path in Edina, Plymouth, or Minneapolis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLow edging and front of border\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse Hedgehog Spruce as evergreen \"buns\" along a path or the front of a bed. Its very slow growth means it stays put for years and never needs shearing — quiet, fine-textured structure at a small scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eContainers and entry pots\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe compact, slow habit makes it an excellent container or porch-pot evergreen, adding year-round greenery to a small space without ever outgrowing the pot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFour-season winter interest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dense cushion holds its blue-green color through five months of Minnesota winter at a scale that won't get buried, adding fine texture when the garden is otherwise bare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Hedgehog Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor evergreens, the ideal window is \u003cstrong\u003elate August through mid-September\u003c\/strong\u003e, giving roots time to establish before the ground freezes. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May, after the ground thaws)\u003c\/strong\u003e is the second-best option. Avoid summer planting when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April, when frozen ground and frost-heaving kill new roots. Container plants can be set out anytime the ground is workable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Hedgehog Spruce\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, the same depth as the ball.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt prefers well-drained ground — in heavy clay or a low spot, plant slightly high on a small mound to keep the crown from sitting in water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost; for troughs and containers use a gritty, well-draining mix.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpacing — 2–3 feet apart for a low grouping; single plants need very little room.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWater basin — build a small ring around the planting to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove it before winter to avoid ice damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch — 2 inches of shredded bark or wood-chip mulch, kept away from the stems. (Decorative stone over the soil in a trough is fine; just don't rely on gravel as the only insulation in the ground.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Hedgehog Spruce in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3–4 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages ~3 inches\/month June–August)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGive one deep watering in early December if fall was dry — evergreens lose moisture through their needles all winter (container plants especially)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished plants are easygoing and only need supplemental water during true droughts. Container plants dry out faster, so check them weekly in summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Hedgehog Spruce survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEasily — as a white-spruce selection it's reliable to roughly -40°F (zone 3). Container plants benefit from being moved against the house or heeled into a bed for their first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt stays tiny — about 1–2 feet tall and 1–3 feet wide — and grows only an inch or two a year, so it won't outgrow a rock garden, trough, or container for many years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStrongly. Deer almost always pass over spruce, making this dwarf worry-free even in high-pressure deer areas like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes it need full sun?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — full sun (6+ hours) keeps the cushion tight and dense. In too much shade it grows looser and loses its neat shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDwarf Black Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a low blue-gray bun of a Minnesota-native spruce for rock gardens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHowell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a small two-tone dwarf with silver-flashing needles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDwarf Alberta Spruce\u003c\/strong\u003e — a classic dense, cone-shaped dwarf evergreen for pots and small beds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae\u003c\/strong\u003e — a soft, ball-shaped dwarf arborvitae for low edging.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Echiniformis Hedgehog Spruce Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a true miniature — no hedge math needed. Use one per trough or container pocket as a living focal point. Along a path or the front of a bed, set single cushions every 2–3 feet as evergreen \"buns,\" or plant a drift of 3–5 spaced 2–2.5 feet apart in a rock garden so the mounds read as a colony without ever merging — at 1–2 inches of growth a year, the spacing you set is the spacing you keep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEchiniformis Hedgehog Spruce Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fresh, brighter blue-green new growth tips each radiating needle cluster — just an inch or two of it, keeping the cushion perfectly tight without any pruning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e The stiff, spiny \"hedgehog\" texture is at its best — a dense, flattened bun that anchors rock gardens and troughs while neighboring perennials come and go.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Holds its blue-green color steady as the garden browns; a deep early-December watering in a dry fall keeps needles plump for winter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evergreen structure at ground level — the small cushion catches snow caps and stays distinctive to -40°F, no burlap or protection needed in the ground.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dwarf-black-spruce-nana\"\u003eDwarf Black Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a slightly larger blue-gray bun of a Minnesota-native spruce to vary the cushion theme.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/howells-dwarf-tigertail-spruce\"\u003eHowell's Dwarf Tigertail Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — two-tone, silver-flashing needles for contrast in a miniature conifer collection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dwarf-alberta-spruce\"\u003eDwarf Alberta Spruce\u003c\/a\u003e — a tight upright cone that gives the vertical note beside this flat cushion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mr-bowling-ball-arborvitae\"\u003eMr. Bowling Ball Arborvitae\u003c\/a\u003e — a soft, rounded dwarf arborvitae whose fine texture plays off the spruce's stiff spines.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Echiniformis Hedgehog Spruce Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose it for a full-sun spot (6+ hours) with decent drainage — rock gardens, troughs, entry pots, or the very front of a bed — especially in deer country, since browsers pass it by. It's not a fit if you need quick coverage or screening: at 1–2 inches of growth a year it will never fill space, and in too much shade the tight cushion grows loose and loses its hedgehog shape.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#2 Gallon","offer_id":54295927390513,"sku":"GT-E1445","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/echiniformis-hedgehog-spruce.jpg?v=1779469308","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/echiniformis-hedgehog-spruce","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}